Protest march held against Udupi-Kasaragod power line

Bellevision Media Network

Mangaluru, 21 Feb 2025: Hundreds of people affiliated with Catholic Sabha’s Mangaluru and Udupi divisions conducted a demonstration in the city on Thursday, opposing the 400 kV power line project between Udupi and Kasaragod. The demonstrators, including affected residents, farmers, environmental activists, and concerned citizens, walked from Balmatta towards the Mini Vidhan Sabha carrying placards.

 

Addressing the demonstrators, Alwyn D’Souza, president, Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, contended that the power company implementing the project is conducting operations under the pretext of power line installation while disregarding established policies, regulations, and statutory guidelines set forth by both central and state govts. He alleged that the company is attempting to carry out work for the proposed Paladka-Kadandale KPTCL Power Transmission Line project by ignoring all the clear legal standards.

 

 

No stakeholder consultations or public meetings were conducted for the planned projects. The affected landowners along the intended route were not provided with legal documentation or project information, nor were they consulted. The company persists with its operations through forceful means, despite strong resistance from landowners, the public, and opposition groups. The proposed pathway would devastate fertile farmlands, standing crops, and precious woodland areas containing numerous rare tree species, D’Souza emphasised their firm opposition to the current route while suggesting alternatives such as maritime paths, roadways, motorways, railway lines, or subterranean passages for project execution.

 

"We persistently pursued our legitimate claim through demonstrations and court proceedings against this project for five years, and we remain steadfast in our position without any intention to yield,’’ he said.

 

The demands of the demonstrators include the prevention of the destruction of agricultural lands and flourishing crops, the repeal of the British-era Telegraph Act of 1885, and the application of the 2003 Electricity Act to power transmission projects. They also demanded the project proponents strictly adhere to the clear guidelines provided by the central and state govts.